Lois Ann Clarke's Obituary
Lois Ann Brabander Clarke was born on January 4, 1933 in St. Clair, MI. She was the third child and the apple of her parents’ eyes, Benjamin and Emma (née Cahours) Brabander. Lois was raised in a loving, faith-filled Catholic home where virtue, compassion, and hard work were deeply instilled in the family. She remained proud throughout her life that she completed all of her primary education in Catholic schools.
An exceptional student, Lois graduated from high school in 1950, and earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Buffalo four years later. Education remained important to her throughout her life and she received several advanced degrees as well. Following her studies, she taught school for several years before meeting the love of her life, Hewitt Clarke, Jr., who had recently moved from Mississippi to New York for work. They were married on June 24, 1961 in Lake View, NY at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where the union of north and south commenced, creating many years of jokes and laughter.
Lois and Hewitt briefly lived in California, where their first daughter, Cynara, was born. A year later, they moved to Houston, where their second daughter, Tara, was born. There they remained until both of their deaths. Lois embraced many roles throughout her life, but marriage and motherhood were among her greatest vocations. She and Hewitt shared 57 devoted years of marriage, filled with love, partnership, and adventure. Lois dedicated many years to raising their daughters before later joining Hewitt in his insurance business, where she managed the bookkeeping. She deeply admired her husband’s adventurous spirit and enthusiastically supported his many creative ideas and pursuits.
Lois found joy in a wide range of activities, including tennis, hiking, skiing, sewing, games, cards, and puzzles. She especially loved making rosaries for the church and giving of herself in service to others. Lois had a servant’s heart, faithfully caring for her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and community. In her later years, she devoted countless hours to volunteering at the hospital, making rosaries, sewing prayer blankets, creating Christmas stockings for newborn babies, and crafting pouches for breast cancer patients.
In 2019, at the age of 87, Lois was honored by Montgomery County as a Woman of Distinction. Her life was marked by unwavering faith, strength, perseverance, generosity, and love for others — qualities that will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Lois is preceded in death by her husband, Hewitt Clarke, Jr.; parents, Benjamin and Emma Brabander; brother Robert Brabander; and sister Shirley Forti.
She is survived by her daughters; Cynara Pellegrino and her husband Greg, Tara Clausen and her husband Richard; her grandchildren Dr. Alexandra Szmutko and husband Carl, Dominic Pellegrino and his wife Kelsey, Brett Ashley Pellegrino, Isabella Pellegrino, Caroline Clausen, Catherine Beardall and her husband Andrew; and her great grandchildren James and Ava Pellegrino, and Atticus Szmutko.
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